A/N: This chapter is actually two mini chapters. One will take place with Maya & Lucas. The other will be Farkle & Lucas.
A/N2: Also – disclaimer – this chapter mentions sexual activity, sexually transmitted diseases, and safe sexual behavior. It is very, very mild and extremely inexplicit. If you don't feel like you want to read this – or feel that you aren't old enough to read this (by the way, this is rated teen with the disclosure about this very thing – you should be like 13 years or older, I hope) – please don't read the entire chapter. I'm posting a very short summary at the end of the chapter for those you not wanting to miss out on anything.
But really – it's not bad. I think I did a good job of addressing a theme that is age appropriate for our characters (who are 17-18 years old and graduating high school) in an all ages reader fashion (assuming my readers are 13 years and older). I think you'd be fine to read it, but if not – like I said – Summary.
No more author notes until the end ENJOY!
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Boys Buying Tickets
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It took me nearly three weeks to crack but I finally have told my mother about my feelings for Maya. Part of the reason I've had to do this is because I want to take Maya to our prom coming up in two weeks and I need money to do that. Whatever money I get from babysitting on the weekends and running deliveries for the sub shop around the corner goes to cabs, eating out, and other things that in hindsight were not as important as senior prom.
She keeps texting me through the day asking me if I'm sure that I really feel so strongly about Maya. I never have to hesitate in my response either. There is no doubt in my mind that I – and yes I mean what I'm saying and thinking right now – love her. Not a single thing in my life has been more resounding, more calming, nor more enveloping than my love for Maya. Since Riley has left we've been far more open about ourselves.
I keep thinking back to a few days ago – when I finally chose to use the word 'love' to describe my feelings – when Maya was laughing so hard at something I said in the cafeteria. Her whole bodied had turned toward me and she'd wrapped both of her arms around mine, her chin slowing sinking down until it rested on my shoulder comfortably. I just watched with a grin planted stupidly on my face. Even now the tingly sensation that overcomes me is almost crippling. I know in my heart (or is it Hart?) that this will never change.
As I'm cruising through the hallway after staying over to do some more laps in Advanced Fitness, I actually come across Farkle talking to Smackle, or as she likes to call herself now Izzo. I still call her Smackle because I refuse to see her as anything but the dorky debate girl that has been stepping on Farkle's coattails for years. They get on nicely, though, and sometimes they even seem to be…
"Did you just give her a prom ticket!" I shout at him mostly against my will. I definitely thought this but I really don't have a filter sometimes, so I see this and I'm just astounded. Farkle turns and thanks Smackle for her time. She says she will 'come by' his house later to hash out the details of their arrangement. Me, I'm just slowly walking up to Farkle with a dropped jaw and squinting eyes.
"In response to your question, Friar, I did. You're not the only person with secrets, after all." Farkle uses that flirty voice of his that is so bad and yet it is still so good. When Smackle is out of sight I look at him with a sideways grin and ruffle that bowl cut do he's still sporting.
"Well, it seems that we're finding true love right where we never would have expected to look, aren't we buddy?" Farkle grins at me and I know it's not true. He expected Smackle to love him, to adore him, to obsess over him, or whatever it is he wanted from her. The only surprise to him is that he wanted it. I, on the other hand, had no idea how Maya felt and never wanted to look for it from her until I stopped wanting it. Farkle's chose was deliberate. My choice was accidental.
That's when I realize that I was going to ask him a favor, which I incidentally just blurt out as I'm thinking; "Will you buy another pair of tickets for me?"
Farkle doesn't even bother asking me who they are for or why I can't buy them myself. Instead he just sticks his scrawny hand out. I push the fifty bucks into his hand. I watch him put it into his pocket and wait for what inevitably comes next.
"Farkle doesn't work for free, Mr. Friar. You want a service. You pay for a service. That's business, sweet cheeks." My cheeks twitch as I try to hold back the laughter that his corporate side always invokes. Even though he is being serious I just simply can't take him seriously. It's comical to me. Regardless of how silly he looks and sounds I just hand him an additional ten bucks. His expression screams "CHEAP" but his hands say "BUT ITS MONEY" because he just pushes the extra cash in his pocket.
"Where am I to deliver the merchandise?" He asks me. But Maya rounds the corner and will soon within earshot. I shove Farkle and pretend to be tripping. My shoelace is the first thing I see and I pull it undone. When Maya reaches me with hands shoved in her plaid dress pockets I just look up while I'm tying my laces again, "Dang shoes, am I right?"
She just nods and starts to walk away. Before she gets too far I grab her arm, "Do you have plans after your class tonight?" My voice sounds as desperate as I feel.
When Maya actually continues nodding at me in affirmation that she has plans I feel a twinge bit angry. If she had plans why is this the first I'm hearing about it?
Thankfully she quells my rage immediately; "I'm eating dinner at your house." Her finger points at me authoritatively which sends a flutter throughout my body. Farkle chuckles before waving at us both and going exactly where I asked him to go. He doesn't need to be told that if Maya follows him for "intel" to say that he's purchasing tickets for him and his date. She'd believe it long enough for me to get a plan together about dinner.
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Boy & The Almost Date
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My mom is standing in the doorway reminding me that "no sex" is safer than "safe sex." And that before engaging in "safe sex" one should always get and "STD test." I assure her that I know all of these things from my many health classes but she asks me again to tell her which STDs are curable and which ones are not. Before she leaves I ask her to remind me what I've said all night.
"That you're not having sex with Maya Hart…" She replies. I grab her cheeks and kiss her forehead. When I push her back out the door she scoffs at me and asks that I stay true to my word. Since this is turning into the same song stuck on repeat I shut the door in her face. Maya will be here in approximately ten minutes. I have to check on the steak in the oven, I have to finish the mashed potatoes, and I definitely went last on the asparagus and bought microwaveable steam bags. I have to get it all on a plate so that all Maya needs to do when she gets here is walk into the dining room and sit down. Underneath her plate will be her prom ticket.
As I reach into my back pocket I realize that my wallet isn't there. This is no big deal. I just changed clothes fifteen minutes ago. I just left my wallet in those pants. Since my hands are behind me I pull out my phone from the other pocket. I have a quite few missed messages.
Riley: I'm missing all of you! I hear prom tickets are on sale! Be sure to text me all the deets about your dates ;)
Maya: Running a little behind schedules – boss asked me to pick up an extra class next week – be there soon!
Farkle: Bowtie or tie? Should I cumberbun? Wing-tipped shoes?
Mom: REMEMBER – NO SEX!
Les: Your mother is having an attack – please no sex kid – she will have a heart attack.
Smackle (1 of 2) : Lucas, I wanted to text you to inform you that I found your wallet on Farkle's front porch. I have to pass yo…
Smackle (2 for 2): …ur house on the way to Book Club so I will have to drop it off for you. I expect you need the Prom Tickets now.
When I read the last two messages I just turn right back around to the kitchen. So I have to improvise since I don't have my wallet with me. Maya will be here before Smackle gets here. There is absolutely no question about that detail. I will have to find a way for her to get the tickets inside of the house with Maya realizing she is here. I then also have to find a coy way to ask her to prom without her seeing it coming.
Maya can see everything a mile away and I really just want to get under her skin by making this a true surprise. Speaking of surprises, when I get back out the kitchen I find my dad standing against the counter. "DAD!"
"Howdy, partner! Yer mom made me fly up here after ya told her about Maya the other day. She thinks we need to have a 'family meeting' about becomin' a man." There is not a doubt in my mind what he is saying is true. My mom and I were closer when I was young but throughout the teenage years I have found that she projects onto me the expectations she had of herself. It has played a big role in the fact that I want to go run the Friar Ranch with my dad.
"I suppose I need to plate for three somehow, then." Accepting that what I had hoped would be a "date" like event with Maya is turning instead into a reunion. There's nothing wrong with this but it does throw a wrench into my wanting to ask Maya to prom.
Twenty minutes later Maya finally arrives. When she does my dad has already cleared his plate and is moving upstairs. She doesn't even know he is here because she goes straight the kitchen table and starts chowing down. I quietly follow her lead and start dining.
We banter a little bit as she recounts some strange conversation she heard on the subway, I say I understand the point-of-view while she argues that I see only what makes me look good. As we are transitioning into something more serious – like the many text messages that I am receiving from my mother about sexual activity – I catch sight of Smackle sneaking into the house from the back patio. Maya is angled perfectly that she won't have noticed yet, and this makes me grateful for something this evening.
"Excuse me…" I say half-heartedly. She raises her brows and starts to look behind her but I knock over her glass. There's only ice left in it because she was very thirsty, apparently, but it startles her and distracts her from finding Smackle. I offer to grab her a new drink. Maya tries to follow me but I push her down and disagree. "I was going to get a refill anyway."
"Your glass hasn't been touched yet, Lucas." Her observation throws me for a loop. I take my glass and chug it against my better judgment. Blue eyes are boring through me as I try to make a good reason to leave the room. It appears that she's gotten the hint because she agrees to just sit. When I start working back to the kitchen I see that Smackle took the cues and has made it to my kitchen as well.
I breathe in relief. She hands me the wallet and is whispering an apology to me. With great difficult, I manage to hear the bulk of it. However, when I try to lead her to the front door I bump into my mom who has snuck back to "check on things." I didn't even hear her come in! Panic is swelling in my gut now.
"Lovely to see you, Sheila. My mother wishes to congratulate you on your winning floral designs this past winter season." Smackle hums to my mother kindly. I jab her with my elbow hoping to drive her out but my mother just carries on this hushes conversation with her that abruptly comes to an end when Maya pops out of nowhere and includes her two cents.
"Nobody cares about floral presentation because right now because I'm Maya Hart and I'm very confused." Her hands find the smalls of both my mother's and Smackle's back as she turns them towards me and shoves. When her arms cross I know that she just wants to know what I'm trying to hide. I wish desperately I could point my fingers at someone else but there is nobody who could speak before me because this starts with me. So I just shrug and mumble incoherently.
"Flar herbna guerh, ya?" She's not buying it, though. I don't know how this evening ended up being the opposite of what I was imagining but it is happening. There are no other options so I kind of just start telling it form the beginning, "I told my mom that I care about you. She thinks that after I spent the night at your house … well … you can fill in the gaps on that… That's why she's here! And Smackle was bringing my wallet back because I left it at Farkle's house. That's why she's here!" I hadn't realized how loudly I was speaking until my father is back in the room chewing on some black licorice that he must have sniffed out in mom's room.
"And Sheila can't handle any of this commotion. That's why I'm here!" He chuckles. Just as plainly and calmly as anyone could manage he walks up to Maya and wraps his arm around her shoulders. I feel my mom tense up next to me. She must not have known that Dad actually really likes her. This is another fantastic reason to live with my Dad. He supports my choices as long as they aren't hurting me.
Maya soon announces that she's full anyway and that we all may as well take a seat in the living room; and that we should tell the story from the beginning. Smackle intervenes and just hands my wallet to me. She has a Book Club meeting, she reminds us, that she must be able in approximately nine minutes. The poor girl is so embarrassed that she leaves before I say 'thanks' for bringing my wallet back in the first place. It might have been easier to let it get stolen.
My mom busies herself in an act of stalling by clearing up the dishes and making a dish of fresh strawberries with chocolate whipped cream as a dessert. In the meantime my dad, Maya, and I are all just waiting on the couch. Maya is sitting in between us just in case when mom gets back she can't handle the maturity level of the conversation.
"Lucas?" My dad leans behind Maya's head and whispers at me. I don't know why he's trying to be hush-hush but I'm sure this is all just for a comical effect.
"Yes, sir?" Habitually calling him sir has no play in my choice of words. I do this as a small act of irritation, actually, so that he knows I am not laughing at his attempt to be funny.
"Did you ask Maya yet?" I freeze. This isn't just a freeze like a brain fart kind of freeze. My whole entire body just stops – no blinking, no breathing, no thinking – absolutely nothing is happening physically, physiologically, emotionally, or mentally. I'm just stuck.
Maya then leans back and interrupts the conversation, "I really don't know if anyone thought I was deaf but I definitely heard that whole exchange." Her nose wrinkling brings life back to me. I grin at her and kind of tilt my head and stare at my dad. He has caught on that the question he is referring to and the question I actually had planned for tonight are very different questions. Very different; as different as two questions could probably be, honestly…
"I was going to invite you to prom tonight… as a date?" Mentally kicking myself for posing the statement as a question within a statement, the only thing that I can do now is wear a very fake smile and hope that it is charming enough that she'll take enough pity on me to agree.
Thankfully the awkward silence of her not accepting and also not rejecting me is squashed. Everyone takes their plates and begins eating, except my mom who is asking Maya what her sexual history is and whether or not she's been tested for STDs which she could have inherited through her mother…
"Or various sexual encounters…" Her eyebrows are wiggling in suspicion hoping that crack Maya enough to get her to blurt out some revealing piece of information. However, I know that this won't be happening and that she's trying to squeeze blood from a turnip.
Maya replies with her usual wit, which brightens the uncomfortable tone of the room significantly, "I have an entire sexual profile. It lists all of my intimate partners, all of the diseases I carry, and even my preferences for acts of intimacy."
The way she purses her lips kind makes me realize why we need to be having this conversation. I am feeling a very strong desire to pull her into my lap and kiss her until the sun comes up. Of course, my mother hardly sees the humor and gasps.
Shouting almost immediately after, "THIS IS A SERIOUS CONVERSATION, NOW, YOUNG LADY!"
"This was just supposed to be stay-in date to ask about an actual date for prom. I'm so sorry that this is happening right now, Maya." I say shyly while placing my hand on her knee. My mom swiftly grabs a rolled up magazine and swats my hand off of her leg. I throw my hands in the air instantaneously. Maya is laughing, I can't say at which detail but she is at least laughing at something.
"Ma'am, I know this is serious. I just can't take you seriously because you are just panicking about it instead of treating us like adults. Lucas is eighteen now and I'll be eighteen this summer. If you want me specifically to listen then you need to treat me like I'm capable of listening." She surprises me here. Even though she has only been in my mother's presence a few times I never would have guessed that she was capable of speaking to my mom this way. Everything about this moment makes me proud of her because she is showing me yet again how grown up she actually is now.
My mother is receptive and she leans back casually, with a compelling smile on her face. My dad is just as impressed as I am, especially when she proves receptive to Maya's mature approach. My mother starts expressing her concerns about underage sexual activity. My father actually starts talking about the dynamic between us both.
I hardly notice as the minutes melt away and I find that it's nearly been two hours! Once we all have discussed the physical relationship between Maya and I – determining most frequently that there is not actually any relationship yet and therefore no physical relationship – Mom and Dad say that they are finally going to let Maya and I have some alone time to talk amongst ourselves.
"But don't forget that we need to talk about the other thing tomorrow evening." My mother calls behind her as she leads my father to door. I look at Maya and just shake my head. I know that she is going to try asking me again, but after the very grown-up conversation that we had tonight I cannot imagine that she wants to delve into that conversation.
And even if she does, I can't tell her because that's a surprise for another day.
We sit quietly for nearly fifteen minutes before I turn to her and grin, apologizing for the evening before we can actually talk start talking about Prom… again… "Sorry about the almost-date we had tonight."
But Maya rolls her head back and starts howling about it all.
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ALL AGES SAFE CHAPTER SUMMARY
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Boy Buys Tickets – mini chapter 1
Lucas wants to buy Prom tickets for himself and Maya without Maya catching on before he formally asks her. Riley has been gone for 3 weeks and even though they're more openly flirting with one another they haven't actually moved forward at all in their relationship. Farkle asks Smackle to Prom and Lucas finds out that Farkle has not only been keeping the secret about his friends' relationship but also his own.
Boy & The Almost Date – mini chapter 2
Lucas has invited Maya over to his house for a night in after she teachers her after school class at the gym. His mother expresses concern about physical intimacy between Lucas and Maya. During his dinner date with Maya, Smackle crashes the date by sneaking in to give Lucas his wallet with the prom tickets. His mother also returns and crashes the date. After Smackle leaves everyone has a mature conversation about Lucas and Maya's developing relationship.
But Lucas mentions on a couple of occasions that he has a big surprise for Maya, but he hasn't hinted to what yet.
A/N: So this chapter was probably not the best in terms of formatting, and I apologize for that. It's hard with the limited formatting to achieve everything the way I do in my processor. Also, since I was iffy about the conversation between Sheila, Les, Lucas, and Maya being a potential issue for younger readers – there was just a lot happening in this chapter and I don't know what else to say.
Hopefully you liked it ya?!